Camden third-graders send care packages to troops

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By Andy Barrand

Hillsdale.net - Hillsdale, MI

By Andy Barrand

Posted Feb. 14, 2013 at 8:43 AM

By Andy Barrand

Posted Feb. 14, 2013 at 8:43 AM

Hillsdale, Mich.

andy.barrand@hillsdale.net

CAMDEN — On Wednesday, students in Kim Alley's third grade class at Camden-Frontier Elementary School put the finishing touches on their letters to troops stationed in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Although the letters and care packages will arrive a little late, the students collected items for Valentine's Day for Kevin Shaffer and other soldiers in his troop.

Shaffer, a 2003 graduate of Camden-Frontier High School, was deployed in December for a nine- to 10-month tour of duty as part of the U.S. Army Infantry Division.

Shaffer is the brother of Alley, who came up with the idea to collect items for care packages. The students brought in items over the last couple of weeks to send to Shaffer.

The students collected a wide variety of things including snacks, candy and personal hygiene items.

Third-grader Eric Hecklinger said it made him feel good to collect items for Shaffer. In his letter he asked how the weather was in Afghanistan and how Shaffer and his comrades were doing.

Alley said it was hard at first to have her brother gone, but that modern technology and the Internet have made things a little easier.

“We can communicate with him on a regular basis,” Alley said. “That has taken a lot of the stress off.”

Third-grader Emma Drakeir shared what she wanted to be when she grew up in her letter to Shaffer. She also shared a Valentine's Day message.

“I also told them what the weather was like here because I don’t think the weather is the same there,” she said.